Rail-bond.



H. H. FEBREY.

RML BOND.

APPLFCATION FILED AUG.?, 19!?- 1 ,301 ,239. Patented Apr. 22, 1919.

INVENTOR UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

matte tween qt; News, aw massisas mma r0. THE AMERICAN STEEL we WIREcomma or New wa 0? assent. new JERS a CORPORATION BA B NP- OI NEW JEBQEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 22 1919.

Ag neatwu and August 7, 19*1'7. Serial No. 154,379..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARODQ' H. Fnen'ny, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Newark, in the count of Essex and State of New Jersey,have i vented c rtain new and useful Improvements in Raii Bends, ofwhich the allowing is a speeifieatient My invention reiates tothe-censtreetien of rail bonds, and more particular to the constructionand application of rail bonds of thetype whereinthe rail bond terminalsare united to the track rails by welding, brazing, or analogous manner.

One'object of this invention is to provide a rail bond having terminalsof never construction forming improved means whereby the rail bonds areapplied to the rails and wherein great strength is combined with snerior electrical conductivity between the 0nd and connected rail.

Another object of the invention iste provide a rail mind having novelWhereby the terminals are first mechanically at tached tothe ends of therail bend conductor and a terminal and its attached end of the conductorare united' to each ether and to the track rail or to a third rail inapp1y ing the rail bond to the rail.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rail bond having'aflexible copper conductor and terminals of a dissimilar metal connectedthereto in such manner that the union of the rail bond to the rails bywelding is effected in a cheap and eememieal manner;

A still fiirther object of my inventien is theprovision ef-a rail bondhavingthe novel features of construction and application shown in thedraw'm to be fuiiy described hereinafter and to e pettieuia'rly pointedout in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings ffirniing part of this QPQItifiBtthidH, Figure1 is a plan, a mi bond emhlidyling a laminated conductor havingterminals men'hanieally attached thereto, anew-dense with my iiwentiuh.

Fig. Y 2 is a side elevation showing the rail bond cf Fig. 1 as appliedin forming a; union between em terminals, the cenduetor ends, and'theengaging face of a track rail.

Fig. 8 is a plan siinilgg to thet-shewn in ,1, showing a mxbdifi form ofhead am- 910 itifiaafi'mhle wire cable in fomninggthe tGI'BI is rai bondconductor and having constructed and mechanically attached to the endsof the conductor in accordance with the invention.

Fig, 4 is a perspective View showing, in detail, the beveled andrecessedrail engag' in 4 face of the bond terminal of Figs. 1 an 2.

Fig; 5 is a perspective view similar to that "of Fig. 4, showing detailsin the construction of the beveled and recessed rail enga ing face ofthe modified form of termina employed with the rail bond of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 isa'pla'n and Fig. 7 is an end elevation showing" the end of thebond conductor of Fig. 3 after application of the thimble thereto.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation showing the thimble incased end of the bondconductor as inserted in the terminal slot or recess.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation, similar to, Fig. 8, showing the thiinbleincased end of the conductor of Fig. 8, as flattened or expanded insecuring the terminal on the conductor end, in preparation for the laterwelding or brazing operation.

In Fig. 2, of the accompanying drawings, the numeral 2 designates thehead of a steel track rail having a rail bond united therewith inaccordance with my invention.

The rail bond comprises a laminated cendhcto'r 3 formed of flat metalstrips and having enlarged ends 4-4. A terminal 5, which preferably isformed of a ferrous metal is provided on each end ofthe con- ;ducter,the terminals {neferably being made of steel of substantia ly' the samecomposit on and electrical eond'activity as the rails 2.

Each of the terminals 5, as will be seen in Figs. 1, 9, and (i, has achan fered or beveled face 6, and in this beveled face is a transverserecess 0r slot 7 having upwardl and outwardly curved sides 8, 8, so thatthe slot 7 flares upwardly from the l wer edge Q'Gfthe bevel d face 6.The restricted portien lOef the upward flaring slot is of a width-equalto that of he conductor 3, and the enlarged ends 4,4, on thecondnotorare adapted to snugly fit the necesses or slots 7, as shown inFig. 1. Preferably, although net neeessaeily, the enlarged ends 4 of theconductor are beveled on the rail engaging iaeetherecf at the same angleas the bevtied rail engaging fat-e 6 of the terminals 5 and flesh withsuch face.

fi thamedified bond cbnstnuotion cf Figs. 3 and 5, the ends of theconductor 3, which are formed of double strands of wire preferably arebound to ether by means of a thimble or thin strip 0% metal (preferablycop er) 13 wound around the ends of the con uctor in the manner shown inFi s. 6 and 7, and the so incased ends 4, 4" 0 the conductor are spreador otherwise enlar ed so as to tightly fit within the upwar l taperingrecess or slot 7 in the beveled rall engaging face 6 of the terminals 5,5" (see Figs. 5, 8 and 9). Preferably any excess metal will be cut oilor otherwise removed from the end of the conductor after the fiatteningor expanding operation, so that the end of the conductor will be flushwith the beveled surface 6 of the bond terminal 5. The lugs on oppositesides of the slot in the rail enga ing side of the terminals will behammered or bent inwardly, as is shown in Fig. 3, to narrow the width ofthe slot and aid in mechanically holding the thimbles in place in theslots or recesses 7*. The thimbles 13 on the enlarged ends 4 of theconductors 3 are desirably made of such length as to extend downwardlyfor a short distance below the lower surface 14 of the terminals, at thecontracted end 10 of the upwardly and outwardly tapering slot or recess7" in the manner shown in Fig. 3. Obviously, however, the thimbles 13may be made flush with the lower surface 14 of the terminals or may beomitted entirely when desired.

In mechanically attaching the terminals 5 to the ends of the conductor3, the enlarged ends 4 of the terminals will be forced tightly into thetransverse slots 7 so as to be tightly held therein by friction and inuniting the rail bonds to the rails the beveled face 6 of the terminalsco-acts with the adjacent face of the rail 2 to form a V-shaped groove11 having its apex at the lower side of the groove, this groove beingemployed to receive additional metal, in uniting the rail bond to therail by weldin brazing, or simllar manner. (See Fig. 2.

Preferably the rail bonds will be welds to the rail althou h they may bebrazed or soldered. When t e rail bond is being welded it will first beheld in osition agalnst the face of the rail, while t e terminals 5, the

enlarged ends 4 of the conductor which are seated within the slot 7 inthe terminals, and the adjacent face of the rail 2 are being heated, bymeans of an electric current (resistance or arc), oxy-acetyleneblow-torch, or other approved manner, to a welding temperature.

After the parts being united becomehighly heated, a metal wire or pencilis introduced into the zone of heatin and is melted therein so as tosupply addltional metal in unitin the rail bond to the rail 2, and,desirab y, this added metal 12 will be built up appended claims.

on top of the upper surface of the terminals 5 to provide added surfaceand increase the strength and electrical efiiciency of the union betweenthe rail bond and rail. But a secure joint, with suflicient crosssection for electric conduction, may be obtained by merely filling inthe triangular space to the level of the top of the terminal 5.

The rail bond of Figs. 3 and 5 is applied to the track rail in the samemanner as has been described in connection with the rail bond of Figs.1, 2, and 4.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart. By constructing the rail bonds as shown and described, the expenseand care required in Welding or brazing the terminals to the conductorin one operation and then again welding or uniting the terminals to therails are avoided and rendered unnecessary. By formin a union betweenthe terminals, the ends of the conduct-or and rail in a single operationthe cost of bonding the track rails is greatly reduced, while by unitingthe rails and the rail bonds in the particular manner shown anddescribed, the strength and durability of the bonds and the electricalefliciency of the union are greatly increased. By using iron or steel inmaking the terminals the cost of the rail bonds is reduced Withoutreduction in the cross section of copper through which the currentpasses.

Modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts may bemade within the scope of the invention as defined in the The materialsused in making the rail bonds may be changed and the wa in which thebonds are united to the rai may be varied and other changes may be made.

I claim:

1. A rail bond comprising a conductor and terminals on the ends thereof,said term inals having a transverse slot in one face thereof in whichsaid ends are seated to mechanically secure the terminals on theconductor and enable each conductor end, its attached terminal, and arail, to be united, each to the other, with the aid of heat in applyingthe rail bonds to the rails.

2. A rail bond comprising a conductor and terminals on the ends thereof,said terminals having a beveled rail engaging face co-a'cting witi therail to form a pocket therebetween, and a transverse slot in saidbeveled face in which the conductor ends are seated to mechanicallysecure the terminals on the conductor and enable the conductor end, itsattached terminals, and a rail, to be united, each to the other, withthe aid of heat in applying the rail bonds to the rails, and said ocketbeing adapted to receive molten metal in the rail bonding operation.

3. A rail bond comprising a copper conductor and steel terminals, saidterminals having a transverse slot in the rail engaging face thereof tomechanically secure the terminals on the ends of the conductor andenable each conductor end, its terminal, and a rail, to be united, eachto the other, with the aid of heat in applying the rail bond to therails.

4. A rail bond comprising a flexible copper conductor and steelterminals, said terminals having transverse slots in the rail engagingface thereof in which the ends of said conductor are seated tomechanically secure the terminals to the conductor and enable eachconductor end, its terminal, and a rail, to be united, each with theother, when heated in the bond applying operation.

5. A rail bond comprising a conductor having enlarged ends and terminalshaving transverse slots in the rail engaging face thereof, said enlargedends being seated in said slots to mechanically secure the terminals tothe conductor and enable each enlarged conductor end, its terminal, anda rail, to be united, each with the other, by the application of heat inthe bond applying operation.

6. A rail bond comprising a\conductor having enlarged ends, a thimble onsaid enlarged ends, and terminals having transverse slots in the railengaging face thereof, said thimbles being seated in said slots tomechanically secure the terminals to the conductor and enable eachconductor end, its thimble and terminal, and the rails, to be united,each with the other, by the application of heat in the bond applyingoperation.

7. In a rail bond comprising a conductor having enlarged ends andterminals havin a beveled rail engaging face, said bevele faces having atransverse slot therein and the enlarged ends of said conductor beingseated in said slots to mechanically secure the terminals to theconductor and enable each enlarged conductor end, its terminal, and arail, to be simultaneously united, each with the other, by theapplication of heat in the bond applying operation, and said beveledfaces on the terminals co-acting with the opposite face of the rails toform a pocket to receive molten metal added thereto in uniting the railbond and rails.

8. A rail bond comprising a conductor formed of copper and havingexpanded ends and terminals formed of ferrous metal, said terminalshaving transverse slots in one face thereof in which the expanded endsof said conductor are mechanically secured.

9. A rail bond comprising a conductor formed of copper and havingenlarged ends and terminals formed of ferrous metal, said terminalshaving transverse slots in the rail engaging face thereof and theenlarged ends of the conductor being mechanically secured in said slots.

10. A rail bond comprising a conductor formed of copper and terminalsformed of ferrous metal, said terminals having trans verse slots in therail engaging face thereof,

in which the ends of the conductor are m chanically fastened andarranged to per:

mit contact between the conductor ends and said rails.

11. A rail bond comprising a flexible con ductor and rigid terminalsformed of ferrous metal, said terminals having transverse slots in whichthe ends of the conductor are mechanically secured and arranged topermit engagement of the conductor ends with the rails in theapplication of the bonds to said rails.

12. A rail bond comprising a laminated copper conductor and rigidterminals formed of ferrous metal, said terminals having a transverseslot in one side face thereof in which the ends of said conductor aremechanically fastened.

13. A rail bond comprising a flexible conductor having enlarged ends andrigid terminals formed of ferrous metal, said terminals having alengthwise tapering, transverse slot in one side face thereof in whichthe ends of said conductor are mechanically fastened.

14. A rail bond comprising a flexible conductor having enlarged ends andrigid terminals formed of ferrous metal, said terminals having alengthwise tapering, transverse slot in the rail engaging face thereofin which the ends of said conductor are mechanically secured.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

HAROLD H. FEBREY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for the cent: each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Iatents. Washington, D. G."

